Read Online Warrior Untamed by Melissa Mayhue - Free Book Online Page B

she might have been so mistaken about his character.
    The Tinklers had been good to her. And they seemed to know more about the oddities of her world than anyone she’d ever met. So in spite of Halldor’s bad attitude, if anyone would be able to help him, Brie had not one doubt that it would be Editha Faas.
    “Hurry,” she ordered, urging her mount to a trot to more quickly close the distance between them.
    “Welcome back to us!” William Faas called, drawing his wagon to a stop only seconds before his wife, Editha, hopped to the ground.
    The Tinkler ran past Brie as if she didn’t exist.
    “Come down from there and show me what’s happened to you,” she ordered as she stopped beside Halldor’s horse.
    Brie turned to study her companion more closely. Had something in the way he carried himself on the horse given away his distress? There was nothing she could see, but in all honesty she didn’t really care how the woman knew Halldor had been injured. She cared only about curing what ailed him.
    “It’s only a small wound,” she offered as Halldor climbed down off his horse. “But it’s gone to infection wickedly fast.”
    Halldor dropped the fur he wore at his feet and kneeled in front of the Tinkler woman so that she could examine the wound for herself.
    Editha’s expression spoke of things Brie suspected she didn’t want to hear.
    “ Wicked is an apt description,” Editha murmured, poking at the wound while Halldor gritted his teeth. “I’ve seen its like only once before, and I know yer circumstances are not the same. What manner of thing has done this to you?”
    When Halldor didn’t answer quickly enough, Brie spoke up. “The weapon is called the Sword ofthe Ancients. But it passes my understanding how it could affect him so badly, since its blade barely grazed his skin.”
    A tiny scratch of a cut. A wound that should have all but healed itself by now.
    Editha looked up, a momentary flash of surprise on her face before she masked the emotion. “Is this true?” she asked Halldor. “The Sword of the Ancients?”
    He nodded, his gaze fixed upon the Tinkler’s.
    “How is it possible for the sword to have . . .” Editha’s voice trailed off as both she and Halldor continued to stare at one another. “I see. I should have known. How, then, is it that yer still alive?”
    “You should have known what?” Brie asked. “What’s going on here?”
    Both of them ignored her.
    “I suspect it has to do with the jewels I carry.”
    Brie moved closer in an effort to hear the conversation, her patience wearing thin with the quiet back-and-forth. The Tinkler needed to do something for Halldor and she needed to do it quickly.
    “Can you no help him, Editha? Surely you have a poultice or a salve to heal a wound such as this.”
    The Tinklers were known far and wide for the herbs and tinctures they supplied to which no others had access. It couldn’t be possible that they didn’t have something to help Halldor. Brie simply wouldn’t accept that.
    “It is an ancient seid, a very old dark magic, thatafflicts our warrior friend. Its power is too strong by far for my healing skills.” Editha slowly shook her head. “The best I can hope to do is to delay the inevitable. He needs a far more powerful healer than I. One born to the talent. And he needs her soon, by the looks of the wound.”
    “There is one who might help him at MacQuarrie Keep.” William spoke from behind Brie, having approached silently.
    “No.” Editha responded with finality. “He canna go there for help. She’s no yet ready for such a step. Besides, her destiny is already written. I think only Orabilis can help him now.”
    At last, they were saying something Brie understood. “The witch of Rowan Cottage? Should I take him there?”
    “No!” Halldor shook his head like a wounded bull about to charge. “Bridget cannot be allowed anywhere near Tordenet again. You know it’s a death sentence for her if she falls into